April 16, 13:36 - Molto Bene

      It's 1:30 on a Saturday afternoon and I'm just chilling.  The weather's gotten a little better but it's still freezing in the apartment.  Starting on Monday or Tuesday it's supposed to be up in the 70's all week!  Yay!  I need me some sun.  I slept in this morning, skyped with Nat, and Sharef (one of my roommates) is going to cook some Israeli food this afternoon.  It's fun chilling with these Israelis all the time.  There are nearly always one or two of their friends over, and so our kitchen is just filled with big hairy Israeli boys in their underwear listening to music and singing and talking in Italian and Hebrew and Arabic.  I was nervous before I met them, but they are so sweet.  We can't communicate very well because neither Mohammad or Sharef speaks English very well and I know about 20 words in Italian, so there's a lot of charades and talking to each other like we're deaf.

       I haven't been indulging too much in the food.  I had pizza yesterday (so good), some gelato, and a kebab for dinner.  I was planning on going to Museo dell'Opera di Santa Maria di Fiore (crazy long names here) this afternoon, but I'm down for some Arabic food, so I'll just go tomorrow morning.
       It's interesting how quiet it is.  When I walk down the street, it feels rather hushed.  Firenze feels like less of a city than Paris, and more of a tourist destination.  I haven't done much exploring, because everything I need is literally within 8 minutes of walking.  It's also been physically uncomfortable to be outside because it's been so damn cold.  When the weather heats up, I'm going to walk all down the river and get hopelessly lost and see some more of the city.  It's so adorable here, though.  All the streets are windy and uneven and flanked by tall, light-colored buildings and it just feels so Italian.  Paris architecture was breathtaking and extravagant and detail-oriented.  Buildings here (with the exception of incredibly ornate masterpieces like il Duomo) are simple orange or white stucco with green wooden shutters and red tile roofs.

The view from my apartment

        I feel so relaxed here, taking naps almost daily, eating yummy food, making art.  The nightlife is pretty happening, though.  If you're around the Duomo at night it's tourist central, but the area around my apartment is pretty happening.  I went out dancing with my Israelis, some Ecuadorians, a Swede, and a Dutch dude the other night, which was really fun.  It's sad how America has no chivalry, no romance.  "Dancing" at home is either awkwardly bouncing in place or grinding.  Europe is just so much better!
        Yesterday in class I started an oil painting, which was hard.  Oils are definitely not my go-to medium, and the teacher says it's going well, but I'm doubtful.  We'll see how it turns out when I put on another layer.  I also found out that while my classes are from 3-5, it just means that the teacher is there for those hours.  I can come in whenever I want and draw or paint.  The school is such a cool space, cluttered with in-progress paintings and drawings and sculptures everywhere.  Some of the art is incredible.  I get really inspired when I'm there.  I'll take some pictures of my pieces soon.

An unfinished drawing from class the other day

         Don't really know what else to say... Just chilling in Firenze!  I don't know why, though, but I just don't feel the same connection I felt with Paris.  Maybe I just haven't explored enough...